A Program for Challengers with Frontier Spirits
The Shizenkan MBA program welcomes applications from those who possess a deep awareness of issues within their own organizations and sectors, as well as the society and world surrounding them, and who have the will to pioneer the future through their own actions while contributing to others.
Not only those working in business fields, but also many people working in the social sector such as NPOs and NGOs, and the public sector including international organizations and national/local governments are studying with us. You may apply regardless of the field in which you currently work.
Admission for Academic Year of 2026
We are currently accepting applications for the next academic year’s program, scheduled to commence on August 20, 2026.
In the selection process, an applicant’s potential will be assessed using the following three elements.
1. Willingness to Take Initiative and Find your Own Path in Life
Applicants must have experiences of demonstrating leadership, taking an initiative and exerting influence over others to spark change in an organization they are affiliated or manage; one’s own recognition of the “self” formed through life experiences; and motivation to become a manager/entrepreneur (*) rather than a mere functional specialist by developing oneself through the Shizenkan program.
*We expect applicants from the public sector to have willingness to confront policy making and its implementation within their organizations.
2. Ability to Absorb Knowledge and Think Critically
Applicants should possess basic academic ability, intellectual capacity, curiosity, and attitude to explore the essence of subject matters, all of which are crucial to digest and absorb the contents of the program. Furthermore, they must demonstrate the ability to explore the underlying factors of the subject phenomenon, analyze their causal structure, form one’s hypothesis through logical inferences, and engage in constructive discussions.
3. Sense of Social Awareness and Willingness to Help Others
Applicants should have an interest in world affairs and societal issues , and possess problem awareness regarding trends of the times and their future direction. They should have their thoughts about challenges and endeavors of organizations they belong to or manage. Having an attitude to face reality and deeply contemplate human existence and organizational activities, communities, and society created by human endeavors, without falling into idealism or pessimism, and without remaining at superficial understanding. Above all, having motivation to actively share such deep problem awareness accompanied by reality with others rather than keeping it within oneself, and connecting this to mutual learning and human growth through mutual inspiration and friendly competition.
1. Download Application Guide and Documents
There are several requirements to apply for the MBA program.
Please check the Application Guide for details before you start application.
2. Prepare your application document and pay the admission fee
Prepare your documents in accordance with the Application Guide.
You documents should be written in the language with which you wish to study (Japanese or English).
Please pay the admissions fee before you submit the application. You need to submit the receipt of the admission fee.
3. Submit your application
Access the online application system, enter your basic information to the system, and upload all required documents.
We cannot accept your application until you submit all the required documents.
Your information can be saved if you do not finish in one sitting.
Confirm the information you provide before you submit the application.
<Deadlines for application for the academic year of 2026>
There are three application cycles for admissions. In principle, applicants who completed their application before a particular submission deadline will receive their admissions result within one month of each deadline. However, the document screening and interviews may start before the deadline to facilitate the admissions process.
1st Deadline: December 12th, 2025
2nd Deadline: March 31st, 2026
3rd Deadline: May 31st, 2026
4. Send certificates via mail
After completing the online application, please mail the following documents to Shizenkan. At the same time, please submit them to Shizenkan Admissions Office in PDF files attached to the email.
- Graduation Certificate (if you are unable to submit a Graduation Certificate, please submit a copy of your diploma or certificate of degree.)
- Academic Transcripts of Academic Degrees
[Mailing Address]
Admissions Office,
Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, Shizenkan University
Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Bldg 17F,
5-1, Nihonbashi 2-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103 ‒ 6117
5. Request recommendation letters
Select two referees and ask each of them to write a recommendation letter for you and submit it to Shizenkan. Please share this link to the refereers, which provide details of our request and a format for the recommendation letter.
6. Document screening and scheduling the interview
We will contact you after reviewing your application documents.
7. Interview
The interview will be conducted online (Zoom).
8. Notification of admission results
We will inform you of the results after making judgements on admissions.
The total of academic fees is 5,000,000 Japanese Yen (excluding the admission fee). The details are as follows.
Enrollment fee 200,000 yen
Year 1 tuition fee 2,400,000 yen
Year 2 tuition fee 2,400,000 yen
(1) The enrollment fee is paid only one time – at the start of the first year.
(2) Program tuition can be paid on a yearly basis or as a lump sum. When necessary, the tuition fees for the first and the second semesters may be paid separately with the permission of Shizenkan, for the students who are nor sponsored and are self-funded. Further detailed information regarding the tuition and fee payment will be sent to you upon notification of acceptance.
(3) The tuition fees do not include costs of textbooks and other optional academic materials.
Optional Field Studies: In addition to the above, if you participate in field studies (optional) in Japan or overseas, their expenses are paid separately.
Scholarship
Shizenkan has established its own scholarship program to enable students the opportunity to learn in a classroom environment rich with diversity, based on the university’s Scholarship Regulations. For details of the program, please download the Scholarship Application Guideline from the following link.
Shizenkan offers the following specific scholarships for those with specific eligibility requirements. Please refer to each scholarship page for details
If you wish to apply for the scholarship program, access the form from the following link, selecting the language with which you wish to study, and upload the required documents.
Student Loans
As part of our support for students, Shizenkan has partnered with the following three financial institutions regarding student loans that can be used for our university’s tuition fees and enrollment fees. Loan eligibility, terms, repayment methods, etc. vary by financial institution, so please refer to each company’s website (displayed below) for details.
To apply for a tuition loan, you will need your acceptance letter (offer letter) from our university. You cannot apply before receiving admission. If you are already enrolled and wish to use a tuition loan, please contact our university administration office.
<Partner institutions>
◆JACCS
◆Orient Corporation
Educational Training Benefits System
The Program has been designated as a course eligible for the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s Practical Education and Training Benefits Program. As a result, students who enroll and meet the requirements will be able to apply to receive reimbursement for a certain percentage of their education and training expenses (the maximum benefits of 1,280,000 JPY can be granted over 2 years). Please check here for further details.
* Information document required to apply for the Benefit.
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Loan Type Scholarship
Shizenkan students can apply for a loan scholarship (which recipients must reimburse after graduation) offered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). Students are required to apply for this scholarship through Shizenkan to JASSO after enrollment. For more information on the application requirements etc on this scholarship, please refer to the JASSO website. The application information for the students who start their study in AY2026 will be released by JASSO around March 2026. For your reference, please see the link below to the application guidelines for students enrolled in AY2025 and the outline of the scholarships.
Application Guidelines for Academic Year 2025 (only in Japanese)
Admission Events
Shizenkan regularly holds open classes and information sessions. The open classes provide an opportunity to experience a mock lecture by Shizenkan faculty, while the information sessions offer insights into Shizenkan’s founding philosophy, societal mission, curriculum, admissions process, and scholarships. These events are open to the public, so feel free to participate.
Consultation / Campus Visit
Please sign up for one-on-one consultations to learn more about our admissions process, program details, unique features,backgrounds of our students, and any other questions you may have.
Consultations are available either online or at the Shizenkan campus.
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